Social dance is a major category or classification of danceforms or dance styles, where sociability and socializing are the primary focuses of the dancing. Social dances can be danced with a variety of partners and still be led and followed in a relaxed, easy atmosphere.
This compares to other major categories based on purpose:
- Ceremonial dance
- Competitive dance
- Erotic dance
- Participation dance
- Performance dance
Many social dances are partner dances. In fact, quite often when spoken about social dances, ballroom or other partner dances are kept in mind. However it is natural to include in this category such groups of dances as circle dances, line dances, novelty dances, or simply club dancing in solo.
- Ballroom dance
- Club dance
- Contra dance
- Country and Western dance
- English country dance
- Folk dance (or Ethnic dance)
- House dance
- Scottish country dance
- Irish and Scottish Céilidh
- Square dance
- Street dance
- Swing dance
- Tango
- Tarantella
There may be aspects of any of the above dance forms that are either competitive or performance-oriented in nature.
Famous quotes containing the words social and/or dance:
“America is no place for an artist: to be an artist is to be a moral leper, an economic misfit, a social liability. A corn-fed hog enjoys a better life than a creative writer, painter, or musician. To be a rabbit is better still.”
—Henry Miller (1891–1980)
“At the extreme north, the voyagers are obliged to dance and act plays for employment.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)